2023–24 Columbus Blue Jackets season

The 2023–24 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the 24th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997.

In the off-season, on July 1, 2023, the Blue Jackets hired Mike Babcock as head coach. However, Babcock resigned after the conclusion of an investigation about improper behavior with players on September 17, and was replaced by Pascal Vincent.

On March 24, 2024, the Blue Jackets were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive season following the Washington Capitals' 3–0 win against the Winnipeg Jets.

Standings Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The Columbus Blue Jackets preseason schedule was released on June 22, 2023. 2023 preseason game log: 4–3–1 (home: 3–1–0; road: 1–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 24 Columbus 2–3 Pittsburgh SO Dell 13,341 0–0–1 Recap 2 September 24 Pittsburgh 3–4 Columbus OT Cajan 13,255 1–0–1 Recap 3 September 26 Columbus 2–3 St. Louis Dell 15,417 1–1–1 Recap 4 September 30 Columbus 3–4 Buffalo Merzlikins 12,209 1–2–1 Recap 5 October 2 St. Louis 3–5 Columbus Greaves 10,239 2–2–1 Recap 6 October 4 Buffalo 3–5 Columbus Merzlikins 10,169 3–2–1 Recap 7 October 5 Washington 4–2 Columbus Martin 11,491 3–3–1 Recap 8 October 7 Columbus 4–2 Washington Merzlikins 12,961 4–3–1 Recap Notes: Indicates split-squad.

Regular season The Columbus Blue Jackets regular season schedule was released on June 27, 2023. 2023–24 game logOctober: 3–4–2 (home: 2–3–1; road: 1–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 12 Philadelphia 4–2 Columbus Merzlikins 18,614 0–1–0 0 2 October 14 NY Rangers 3–5 Columbus Merzlikins 16,520 1–1–0 2 3 October 16 Detroit 4–0 Columbus Martin 14,959 1–2–0 2 4 October 20 Calgary 1–3 Columbus Martin 16,276 2–2–0 4 5 October 21 Columbus 5–4 Minnesota OT Merzlikins 18,479 3–2–0 6 6 October 24 Anaheim 3–2 Columbus OT Merzlikins 16,432 3–2–1 7 7 October 26 Columbus 3–4 Montreal OT Merzlikins 21,105 3–2–2 8 8 October 28 NY Islanders 2–0 Columbus Martin 15,424 3–3–2 8 9 October 30 Columbus 3–5 Dallas Merzlikins 18,532 3–4–2 8 November: 4–9–2 (home: 3–4–0; road: 1–5–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 2 Tampa Bay 2–4 Columbus Merzlikins 14,276 4–4–2 10 11 November 4 Columbus 1–2 Washington Merzlikins 18,573 4–5–2 10 12 November 6 Columbus 4–5 Florida OT Martin 17,103 4–5–3 11 13 November 9 Dallas 5–2 Columbus Martin 15,253 4–6–3 11 14 November 11 Columbus 4–5 Detroit Martin 19,156 4–7–3 11 15 November 12 Columbus 3–4 NY Rangers SO Merzlikins 18,006 4–7–4 12 16 November 14 Pittsburgh 5–3 Columbus Merzlikins 16,596 4–8–4 12 17 November 16 Arizona 3–2 Columbus Merzlikins 15,909 4–9–4 12 18 November 18 Columbus 3–4 Washington Merzlikins 18,573 4–10–4 12 19 November 19 Columbus 2–5 Philadelphia Martin 17,416 4–11–4 12 20 November 22 Chicago 3–7 Columbus Merzlikins 18,158 5–11–4 14 21 November 24 Columbus 2–1 New Jersey Merzlikins 16,514 6–11–4 16 22 November 26 Columbus 2–3 Carolina Merzlikins 18,700 6–12–4 16 23 November 27 Boston 2–5 Columbus Martin 14,357 7–12–4 18 24 November 29 Montreal 4–2 Columbus Merzlikins 14,316 7–13–4 18 December: 5–5–4 (home: 3–3–2; road: 2–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 Ottawa 2–4 Columbus Merzlikins 15,552 8–13–4 20 26 December 3 Columbus 1–3 Boston Martin 17,850 8–14–4 20 27 December 5 Los Angeles 4–3 Columbus OT Merzlikins 15,088 8–14–5 21 28 December 7 Columbus 3–7 NY Islanders Martin 13,510 8–15–5 21 29 December 8 St. Louis 2–5 Columbus Greaves 15,713 9–15–5 23 30 December 10 Florida 5–2 Columbus Greaves 16,269 9–16–5 23 31 December 14 Columbus 6–5 Toronto OT Merzlikins 18,338 10–16–5 25 32 December 16 New Jersey 6–3 Columbus Tarasov 18,172 10–17–5 25 33 December 19 Columbus 9–4 Buffalo Tarasov 14,888 11–17–5 27 34 December 21 Washington 3–2 Columbus OT Merzlikins 18,172 11–17–6 28 35 December 23 Toronto 4–1 Columbus Tarasov 17,806 11–18–6 28 36 December 27 Columbus 3–4 New Jersey OT Merzlikins 16,514 11–18–7 29 37 December 29 Toronto 5–6 Columbus OT Martin 18,516 12–18–7 31 38 December 30 Columbus 2–3 Buffalo OT Tarasov 19,070 12–18–8 32 January: 4–6–2 (home: 1–3–1; road: 3–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Boston 4–1 Columbus Martin 18,262 12–19–8 32 40 January 4 Columbus 3–2 Philadelphia SO Tarasov 17,510 13–19–8 34 41 January 6 Minnesota 4–3 Columbus OT Tarasov 18,771 13–19–9 35 42 January 9 Columbus 0–5 Winnipeg Tarasov 12,512 13–20–9 35 43 January 13 Seattle 7–4 Columbus Tarasov 18,588 13–21–9 35 44 January 15 Vancouver 3–4 Columbus SO Merzlikins 17,622 14–21–9 37 45 January 19 New Jersey 4–1 Columbus Merzlikins 18,630 14–22–9 37 46 January 23 Columbus 1–4 Edmonton Merzlikins 18,347 14–23–9 37 47 January 25 Columbus 5–2 Calgary Tarasov 16,889 15–23–9 39 48 January 27 Columbus 4–5 Vancouver OT Merzlikins 19,002 15–23–10 40 49 January 28 Columbus 2–4 Seattle Tarasov 17,151 15–24–10 40 50 January 30 Columbus 1–0 St. Louis Merzlikins 18,096 16–24–10 42 February: 3–6–0 (home: 1–3–0; road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 10 Tampa Bay 4–2 Columbus Merzlikins 18,876 16–25–10 42 52 February 13 Columbus 3–6 Ottawa Tarasov 15,203 16–26–10 42 53 February 17 Columbus 4–3 San Jose Merzlikins 17,435 17–26–10 44 54 February 20 Columbus 1–5 Los Angeles Merzlikins 16,980 17–27–10 44 55 February 21 Columbus 7–4 Anaheim Tarasov 14,518 18–27–10 46 56 February 23 Buffalo 2–1 Columbus Tarasov 18,943 18–28–10 46 57 February 25 NY Rangers 2–4 Columbus Merzlikins 18,293 19–28–10 48 58 February 28 Columbus 1–4 NY Rangers Merzlikins 18,006 19–29–10 48 59 February 29 Carolina 4–2 Columbus Tarasov 18,390 19–30–10 48 March: 5–8–2 (home: 4–2–1; road: 1–6–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 60 March 2 Columbus 5–2 Chicago Merzlikins 18,782 20–30–10 50 61 March 4 Vegas 3–6 Columbus Tarasov 17,338 21–30–10 52 62 March 5 Columbus 3–5 Pittsburgh Greaves 17,072 21–31–10 52 63 March 7 Edmonton 2–4 Columbus Tarasov 17,718 22–31–10 54 64 March 9 Nashville 2–1 Columbus Tarasov 17,602 22–32–10 54 65 March 12 Columbus 0–3 Montreal Tarasov 21,105 22–33–10 54 66 March 14 Ottawa 3–2 Columbus SO Merzlikins 15,667 22–33–11 55 67 March 16 San Jose 2–4 Columbus Tarasov 16,967 23–33–11 57 68 March 17 Winnipeg 6–1 Columbus Merzlikins 16,193 23–34–11 57 69 March 19 Columbus 3–4 Detroit OT Tarasov 17,707 23–34–12 58 70 March 22 Columbus 1–6 Colorado Merzlikins 18,117 23–35–12 58 71 March 23 Columbus 2–4 Vegas Tarasov 18,225 23–36–12 58 72 March 26 Columbus 2–6 Arizona Merzlikins 4,600 23–37–12 58 73 March 28 Columbus 2–3 Pittsburgh Tarasov 18,191 23–38–12 58 74 March 30 Pittsburgh 3–4 Columbus SO Merzlikins 18,873 24–38–12 60 April: 3–5–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 0–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 75 April 1 Colorado 1–4 Columbus Tarasov 16,731 25–38–12 62 76 April 4 NY Islanders 4–2 Columbus Greaves 16,213 25–39–12 62 77 April 6 Philadelphia 2–6 Columbus Greaves 18,323 26–39–12 64 78 April 7 Columbus 0–3 Carolina Subban 18,837 26–40–12 64 79 April 9 Columbus 2–5 Tampa Bay Greaves 19,092 26–41–12 64 80 April 11 Columbus 0–4 Florida Greaves 18,451 26–42–12 64 81 April 13 Columbus 4–6 Nashville Greaves 17,282 26–43–12 64 82 April 16 Carolina 3-6 Columbus Greaves 17,289 27–43–12 66 Legend:

Player statistics As of April 16, 2024

Skaters Regular season Player 81 12 48 60 22 70 11 46 57 0 22 78 23 19 42 14 58 22 13 35 28 75 18 16 34 52 77 13 19 32 46 82 5 27 32 20 78 12 18 30 38 53 16 13 29 6 67 9 19 28 51 49 12 15 27 16 71 10 16 26 26 78 6 20 26 74 ‡ 40 6 17 23 14 62 9 9 18 40 42 6 10 16 10 † 23 11 3 14 6 72 4 9 13 32 54 5 7 12 70 ‡ 32 5 6 11 10 43 1 9 10 22 35 1 9 10 0 18 6 3 9 6 ‡ 23 1 7 8 6 11 2 1 3 4 24 2 2 4 6 11 2 1 3 0 2 14 1 1 2 2 17 0 2 2 0 12 0 2 2 2 12 1 0 1 +1 4 1 1 0 1 +1 0 ‡ 7 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 ‡ 1 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 41 40 2,258:40 13 17 8 121 3.45 1,266 .897 1 0 0 4 24 23 1,376:28 8 11 3 63 3.18 796 .908 0 0 0 0 9 8 515:52 3 6 0 30 3.49 327 .908 0 0 0 0 ‡ 13 10 707:13 3 8 1 43 3.65 379 .887 0 0 0 0 1 1 60:00 0 1 0 3 3.00 35 .914 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Blue Jackets. Stats reflect time with the Blue Jackets only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Blue Jackets only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Transactions The Blue Jackets have been involved in the following transactions during the 2023–24 season.

Key

Contract is entry-level. Contract initially takes effect in the 2024–25 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Vegas Golden Knights7th-round pick in 2023To Columbus Blue Jackets7th-round pick in 2024 To Buffalo SabresEric RobinsonTo Columbus Blue Jacketsconditional NSH 7th-round pick in 2025 To Pittsburgh PenguinsEmil BemstromTo Columbus Blue JacketsAlexander Nylanderconditional 6th-round pick in 2026 To New York RangersJack Roslovic (50% retained) To Columbus Blue JacketsConditional 4th-round pick in 2026 To Boston BruinsAndrew Peeke To Columbus Blue JacketsJakub Zboril3rd-round pick in 2027 To St. Louis BluesFuture considerations To Columbus Blue JacketsMalcolm Subban

Players acquired Date Player Former team Term Via Ref Spencer Martin Vancouver Canucks Waivers Max McCue London Knights (OHL) 3-year Free agency

Players lost Date Player New team Term Via Ref Lane Pederson Edmonton Oilers 2-year Free agency Justin Richards Buffalo Sabres 1-year Free agency Gavin Bayreuther Dallas Stars 1-year Free agency Joona Luoto SC Bern (NL) 1-year Free agency Michael Hutchinson Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) 1-year Free agency Tim Berni Genève-Servette HC (NL) 4-year Free agency Liam Foudy Nashville Predators Waivers Spencer Martin Carolina Hurricanes Waivers

Signings Date Player Term Ref Marcus Bjork 1-year Adam Fantilli 3-year Justin Danforth 1-year Gavin Brindley 3-year

Draft picks

Below are the Columbus Blue Jackets' selections at the 2023 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 28 to 29, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Round # Player Pos. Nationality Team (League)13 Adam Fantilli C Michigan Wolverines (B1G)234 Gavin Brindley C Michigan Wolverines (B1G)366 William Whitelaw RW Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)498 Andrew Strathmann D Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)114 Luca Pinelli C Ottawa 67's (OHL)5156 Melvin Strahl G Modo Hockey (J20 Nationell)7194 Oiva Keskinen C Tappara (U20 SM-sarja)224 Tyler Peddle LW Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

References